queer
Queer is generally used as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender minorities that are not heterosexual or cisgender. The word originally means “strange” or “peculiar.” The word was originally used as a derogatory term for feminine men or men who had same-sex relationships. The label began to be reclaimed by the then LGBT community in the late 1980’s. Queer may be preferred as an identity due to its ambiguity, and may be used in rejection to traditional gender identities, and can be more fluid. Queer is a valid sexual orientation and identity label.
Some common uses of the word Queer:
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attracted to people of many genders (men, women, genderqueer, gender non-conforming)
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not fitting cultural norms around sexuality and/or gender identity/expression (gender, sexual practices, relationships)
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non-heterosexual (umbrella term)
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revolutionary, anti-assimilating, radical, changing norms
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epithet or slur for someone non-heterosexual (derogatory)
People who are intersex may refer to their bodies as “queer bodies.” However, intersex people may not necessarily identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.
Many organizations reject the word queer, and may think its is offensive or self deprecating, especially since it may be commonly used in hate speech. They may also not want to be associated with the political radicalism that the word is sometimes associated with.
It is important to note that queer can mean different things for different people depending on their personal experiences/beliefs.
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